Saturday, January 28 was the 4th annual Mountain Lion Vex IQ Robotics Challenge hosted by Alpine Elementary IB World School in St Vrain Valley Schools in Longmont, CO. It was spectacular! 22 teams from around Longmont competed in several events.

Students at Fall River Elementary have several opportunities to learn about computer science and robotics. Students can participate in a competitive VEX IQ program. These students work in collaborative teams to accomplish tasks determined by VEX IQ in advance. During tournaments, teams compete and form alliances to earn points, win awards and possibly advance to state and world tournaments. Students on the competitive robotics team meet at least twice a week and before or after school as needed.

Brian Straight, one of Skyline's GK-12 fellows, taught students about what is currently going on in the world of robotics. Not only did he touch on biomedical engineering, humanoid robots, drones, and robots in space, he also taught the sophomores about his own personal research. Students learned how he analyzed forces exerted on a person in a wheelchair as they were being pushed in an effort to create a more supportive chair in the future during his time as a mechanical engineering graduate student. Students also got to learn about another project that Brian has work

Congratulations to our own Robotics Team, the Flying Python Innovators for their State Competition Performance. This team has the Highest Ranking in the State of Colorado for Programming Skills. Zeke W., Nicholas S. and Allison B. have created an incredible robot that has won several awards this year and secured the team a spot at the Worlds Competition in Louisville, Kentucky. Check out a video on their programming skill at LEERobotics.